Even within Europe, CBD is sold openly in some countries, available only on prescription in others, and treated as a narcotic when it contains any THC in a few. The rules also change often. This guide summarises the legal status of consumer CBD products in all EU member states, the Schengen countries outside the EU (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and the United Kingdom, with sources for every country and the date we last checked it.

Please read before you rely on this guide. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws on CBD change frequently and can differ by product type, region and customs practice, and we may have made mistakes. Before you buy, sell, import or travel with CBD, check the current rules with the competent authority in your country. If you spot an error or have an update, please email us at info@hempika.com.

Key takeaways

In the EU, CBD lawfully produced from certified hemp is not considered a narcotic. CBD intended for eating or drinking, however, is a novel food, and at the time of writing no CBD novel food had been authorised in the EU.
In February 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) set a provisional safe intake of about 2 mg of CBD per day for a 70 kg adult. It does not apply to people under 25, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or to people taking medication.
National rules still differ widely. Finland and Denmark treat oral CBD products as prescription medicines, Italy and Greece have restricted hemp flowers, Sweden and Ireland do not tolerate THC in CBD products, and Norway and Iceland treat CBD far more strictly than most EU countries.
Several countries changed their rules in 2025 and 2026, including Italy, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
Do not travel across borders with CBD products. Even a product that is legal at home can lead to seizure or prosecution in another European country.

How to read this guide

“Is CBD legal?” rarely has a yes or no answer. CBD itself may be legal while specific products are not, because countries regulate CBD through different laws depending on how it is sold: as a food or food supplement, a cosmetic, a medicine, a smoking product or a narcotic. We use three statuses:

Legal, regulated: Hemp-derived CBD products can be sold and bought legally, but product rules still apply. In the EU this usually means that cosmetics and other non-food products are available, while CBD foods and supplements need novel food authorisation.
Restricted: CBD is available only in limited forms, for example on prescription, only with zero or near-zero THC, or with important product types banned.
Prohibited: CBD is a controlled substance, or consumer CBD products are not permitted at all.

The THC limit column shows the limit that applies to hemp crops or to finished products, depending on the country. A limit for crops does not automatically mean a finished product with the same THC content is legal. This guide covers 32 countries: the 27 EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, each checked individually in September 2026. Where we could only find secondary sources, such as specialised guides rather than official or legal sources, the “Checked” column says so. Other countries are not covered, so please do not assume that CBD is legal there.

CBD legal status map

Legal, regulated
Restricted
Not covered

Select a country on the map to see a short summary.

Legal status of consumer CBD products in EU and Schengen countries and the United Kingdom, checked September 2026. Countries shown in grey are not covered by this guide: do not assume CBD is legal there. This map is a simplified overview, not legal advice.

CBD in the European Union: the common rules

Every EU country applies its own drug, food and medicines laws, but four EU-level rules shape the market everywhere:

CBD is not a narcotic. In the Kanavape judgment (C-663/18, 2020), the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that CBD lawfully produced in one member state is not a narcotic drug and that another member state may only restrict its sale where this is justified and proportionate to protect public health.
CBD foods need authorisation. Under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, CBD extracts and isolates used in food and food supplements are novel foods. In February 2026, EFSA set a provisional safe intake of 0.0275 mg per kg of body weight per day, about 2 mg for a 70 kg adult, for CBD of at least 98% purity. This is a safety reference point, not an authorisation.
Safety review is ongoing. In March 2026, the Risk Assessment Committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommended classifying CBD as toxic to reproduction and lactation. The European Commission has not yet made a final decision.
No health claims. Health claims on foods must be authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, and none has been authorised for CBD.

Since 2023, hemp grown in the EU may contain up to 0.3% THC under the Common Agricultural Policy (Regulation (EU) 2021/2115). Limits for finished products are set nationally and can be stricter.

CBD legal status by country

Find a country

Country	Status	What it means in practice	THC limit	Sources	Checked
Austria	Restricted	CBD is not a narcotic, but the health ministry does not allow CBD in food, food supplements or cosmetics. Oils are usually sold as aroma products. Hemp flowers are taxed and sold as tobacco products.	0.3%	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Austria (2024) Cannabis Europa: Is cannabis legal in Austria? (2026)	September 2026
Belgium	Legal, regulated	CBD is not a narcotic. CBD cosmetics are allowed, and hemp smoking products under 0.3% THC may be sold if notified and taxed like tobacco. CBD foods and oils for ingestion are not permitted.	0.3%	Cannabis Europa: Is cannabis legal in Belgium? (2026) CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Belgium (2024)	September 2026
Bulgaria	Legal, regulated	CBD is not listed as a controlled substance and CBD products are widely sold. THC itself remains controlled, so products with detectable THC carry legal risk. Ingestible CBD falls under novel food rules.	0.3% (hemp crops)	GP Law: the legal status of CBD in Bulgaria CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Bulgaria (2024)	September 2026
Croatia	Legal, regulated	Industrial hemp and products made from it are exempt from drug controls. CBD cosmetics are freely sold, ingestible CBD needs novel food authorisation, and CBD medicines are prescription-only.	0.3% (hemp crops)	Pharmaceutics review: regulation and use of CBD in Croatia (2026) CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Croatia (2026)	September 2026
Cyprus	Legal, regulated	CBD products with no more than 0.2% THC are sold in pharmacies and specialist shops. Police seize products above this limit, and Cyprus enforces strict drug laws. Ingestibles fall under novel food rules.	0.2% (finished products)	LegalClarity: cannabis and CBD laws in Cyprus (2026) CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Cyprus (2026)	September 2026 (secondary sources)
Czech Republic	Legal, regulated	Low-THC cannabis products up to 1% THC may be sold to adults by licensed sellers under the Psychomodulatory Substances Act. Since January 2026, adults 21+ may grow up to 3 plants at home.	1% (licensed low-THC products)	Vicente LLP: evolution of cannabis laws in the Czech Republic (2025) Harris Sliwoski: Czech Psychomodulatory Substances Law (2025) CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in the Czech Republic (2024)	September 2026
Denmark	Restricted	According to the Danish Medicines Agency, the only legal CBD products for oral use are prescription medicines. CBD may be used in cosmetics, but not in the form of flowers, resin or their extracts.	Oral CBD on prescription only	Danish Medicines Agency: cannabis-containing products (2026)	September 2026
Estonia	Legal, regulated	CBD is not a narcotic, but the Agriculture and Food Board treats CBD oils for consumption as unauthorised novel foods that may not be sold. CBD cosmetics are available.	0.3% (hemp crops)	ERR News: Agriculture and Food Board on CBD products MyCannabis: cannabis and CBD laws in Estonia (2026)	September 2026
Finland	Restricted	Fimea treats preparations containing CBD as prescription medicines and classifies each product case by case. Over-the-counter CBD oils are not permitted.	CBD products on prescription only	Fimea: CBD is controlled as a medicine in Finland	September 2026
France	Legal, regulated	Hemp-derived CBD products up to 0.3% THC are legal, including flowers after a 2022 Conseil d’État ruling. Semi-synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC are banned. Ingestibles still need novel food authorisation.	0.3%	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in France (2024)	September 2026
Germany	Legal, regulated	Hemp from EU-certified varieties up to 0.3% THC is exempt from cannabis controls when not intended for intoxication. Ingestible CBD needs novel food authorisation. Adults may possess limited amounts of cannabis since April 2024.	0.3%	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Germany (2024) Business of Cannabis: Is cannabis legal in Germany in 2026?	September 2026
Greece	Restricted	CBD oils and cosmetics remain legal. Since May 2026, Law 5302/2026 bans the retail sale of dried hemp flower regardless of THC content, while raising the hemp limit to 0.3%.	0.3%	MyCannabis: cannabis and CBD laws in Greece (2026) CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Greece after Law 5302/2026	September 2026 (secondary sources)
Hungary	Legal, regulated	CBD is not a controlled substance. Requirements depend on whether a product is a food, cosmetic or medicine. Hungary has some of the strictest cannabis penalties in the EU.	Check product category	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Hungary (2024)	September 2026
Iceland	Restricted	Icelandic authorities treat CBD as a pharmacologically active substance. Importing, distributing or marketing food supplements containing CBD is not allowed, and the only authorised CBD product is a prescription medicine.	No THC; CBD treated as a medicinal substance	Icelandic Police and Food and Veterinary Authority: statement on CBD oil (in Icelandic) CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Iceland (2026)	September 2026
Ireland	Restricted	The Food Safety Authority of Ireland states that food products containing THC at any level, other than hemp seed products, are controlled drugs. Ingestible CBD also needs novel food authorisation.	No detectable THC	Food Safety Authority of Ireland: CBD and other hemp products	September 2026
Italy	Restricted	Since April 2025, hemp flowers and products derived from them, including extracts, are treated as narcotics (Decree-Law 48/2025, Law 80/2025). CBD from seeds and stalks, hemp foods and cosmetics remain allowed. Court challenges are pending.	Flowers and flower extracts banned	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Italy (2024) Business of Cannabis: Italy’s hemp flower ban (Apr 2026)	September 2026
Latvia	Restricted	THC is a strictly controlled narcotic, so products with detectable THC are treated as drugs. Ingestible CBD is regularly withdrawn as an unauthorised novel food; CBD cosmetics are available.	No detectable THC in practice	MyCannabis: cannabis and CBD laws in Latvia (2026) CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Latvia (2026)	September 2026 (secondary sources)
Liechtenstein	Restricted	There are no specific CBD rules. The narcotics law covers cannabis above 1% THC, as in Switzerland, but hemp cultivation has been banned since 2005, so the legal position of CBD products is unclear.	1% (narcotics law)	Wikipedia: Cannabis in Liechtenstein The Cannigma: cannabis laws in Liechtenstein	September 2026 (secondary sources)
Lithuania	Legal, regulated	The hemp law allows products from hemp with up to 0.2% THC, but authorities have seized CBD oils and edibles as unauthorised novel foods or where THC was detected. Cannabis laws are strict.	0.2% (finished products)	CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Lithuania (2026) Wikipedia: Cannabis in Lithuania	September 2026 (secondary sources)
Luxembourg	Legal, regulated	CBD products follow EU rules. Adults may grow a small number of cannabis plants at home under the 2023 reform.	0.3%	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Luxembourg (2024)	September 2026
Malta	Legal, regulated	Maltese law distinguishes CBD from psychoactive cannabinoids, and CBD products may contain up to 0.2% THC. Adults may also possess and grow limited amounts of cannabis under the 2021 law.	0.2% (finished products)	MaltaToday: government to amend cannabis law (2025) CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Malta (2026)	September 2026
Netherlands	Legal, regulated	CBD cosmetics and hemp products are widely sold. Ingestible CBD needs novel food authorisation. Cannabis itself is illegal but tolerated in licensed coffeeshops.	0.3% (EU crops)	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in the Netherlands (2024)	September 2026
Norway	Restricted	The Norwegian Food Safety Authority states that all extracts of the cannabis plant are narcotics in Norway, whether or not they contain THC. CBD medicines are prescription-only, and CBD is not approved for use in food.	Plant extracts count as narcotics	Norwegian Food Safety Authority: CBD and the rules (Apr 2026) CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Norway (2024)	September 2026
Poland	Legal, regulated	Hemp-derived CBD products are sold legally within EU product rules. Medical cannabis is available on prescription.	0.3%	Cannabis Europa: Is cannabis legal in Poland? (2026) CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Poland (2024)	September 2026
Portugal	Restricted	Infarmed takes a restrictive view of CBD: CBD from cannabis extracts may not simply be used in cosmetics, and the food authority does not allow CBD in food. Medical cannabis is available on prescription.	0.3% (hemp crops)	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Portugal (2024) CannabisRegulations.ai: CBD in Portugal (2026)	September 2026
Romania	Restricted	Only CBD products without THC, such as oils, creams and balms, are sold over the counter. Products containing THC are not permitted, and CBD foods face food safety controls.	No THC in finished products	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Romania (2024) LegalClarity: cannabis and CBD laws in Romania (2026)	September 2026
Slovakia	Legal, regulated	CBD was removed from the national list of narcotic substances in May 2021. CBD is mainly sold as cosmetics, as the current framework does not allow CBD for internal use.	0.3%	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Slovakia (2024)	September 2026
Slovenia	Legal, regulated	Hemp-derived CBD products are sold legally; ingestibles fall under novel food rules. Since August 2025, doctors may prescribe medical cannabis for any indication (ZKMZN).	0.3% (EU crops)	Uradni list RS: Zakon o konoplji za medicinske in znanstvene namene (ZKMZN) JAZMP: Zakon o konoplji za medicinske in znanstvene namene CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Slovenia (2024)	September 2026
Spain	Restricted	CBD cosmetics are allowed, but CBD may not be marketed for ingestion. Medical cannabis preparations are limited to hospital prescription (Royal Decree 903/2025).	0.3% (EU crops)	CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in Spain (2024) Osborne Clarke: new framework for medicinal cannabis in Spain (Oct 2025)	September 2026
Sweden	Restricted	Under a 2019 Supreme Court ruling, any CBD product containing THC is a narcotic. THC-free products may be sold, but not as food, and oral CBD is often treated as a medicine.	No detectable THC	The Cannigma: cannabis and CBD rules in Sweden (2026) MyCannabis: cannabis and CBD laws in Sweden (2026)	September 2026 (secondary sources)
Switzerland	Legal, regulated	Cannabis with less than 1% THC is not a narcotic and can be sold under the rules for its product category. A bill to regulate adult cannabis use is still in parliament.	1%	Swiss Federal Office of Public Health: Cannabis Chambers and Partners: Medical Cannabis 2026, Switzerland	September 2026
United Kingdom	Legal, regulated	Ingestible CBD must be linked to an application on the FSA public list. The FSA advises healthy adults to take no more than 10 mg CBD a day. The first authorisations were recommended to ministers in September 2026.	Max. 1 mg controlled cannabinoids per container	UK Food Standards Agency: CBD novel food applications, board paper (Sep 2026) CMS Expert Guide: cannabis law in the United Kingdom (2024)	September 2026

What changed recently?

Italy: since April 2025, hemp flowers and products derived from them are treated as narcotics under Decree-Law 48/2025, later converted into Law 80/2025. Challenges are pending before the Italian Constitutional Court and the Court of Justice of the EU.
Greece: Law 5302/2026, in force since May 2026, bans the retail sale of dried hemp flower regardless of THC content and raises the THC limit for hemp to 0.3%. CBD oils and cosmetics remain legal.
Czech Republic: licensed shops may sell low-THC products up to 1% THC to adults, and since January 2026 adults may grow up to three cannabis plants at home.
Slovenia: the Act on Cannabis for Medical and Scientific Purposes (ZKMZN) took effect in August 2025 and allows doctors to prescribe medical cannabis for any indication.
EU: EFSA published its provisional safe intake for CBD in February 2026, and ECHA’s risk assessment committee recommended a reproductive toxicity classification in March 2026.
United Kingdom: in September 2026 the Food Standards Agency recommended the first CBD novel food authorisations to ministers, with a proposed maximum of 10 mg CBD per day.

Key terms

Industrial hemp: Registered varieties of Cannabis sativa L. with very low THC, grown for fibre, seeds and other uses. In the EU, hemp crops may contain up to 0.3% THC.
Cannabis: Varieties of the same plant grown for high THC content. They are controlled in most countries, with growing exceptions for medical and adult use.
CBD (cannabidiol): A cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis. CBD does not cause intoxication. Legal risk usually comes from the THC content of a product, the part of the plant used, or the way the product is marketed.
Full-spectrum extract and isolate: A full-spectrum extract contains CBD together with other natural compounds from the plant, which may include traces of THC. An isolate is purified CBD, typically at least 98% pure, without THC. In countries with a zero-THC approach, only isolate-based products are low risk.
Hemp seed oil and CBD oil: Hemp seed oil is pressed from seeds, contains no meaningful amount of cannabinoids and is sold as a regular food. CBD oil is a hemp extract dissolved in a carrier oil. In the EU, CBD oil falls under novel food rules when intended for consumption.

For a deeper introduction, read our CBD 101 guide.

Travelling with CBD

Customs officers and police usually cannot tell a legal hemp product from an illegal cannabis product without laboratory testing. A CBD product that is legal where you bought it can be seized at the border, and in some countries even trace THC is prosecuted. Open Schengen borders do not change this: police can still check and seize products. We recommend that you do not carry CBD products across borders or through transit airports. If you use CBD, keep in mind that full-spectrum products can cause a positive result in a THC drug test, including roadside tests.

How we compiled this guide

We checked each country against official sources wherever possible: government agencies, EU bodies and official gazettes. Where official sources were not available in English or not specific enough, we used country guides from international law firms and specialised regulatory news. Every country in the table links to the sources we used, and the “Checked” column shows how recently.

Earlier versions of this page listed more than 190 countries worldwide. Many of those entries could not be verified, so we now focus on Europe, where we can check each country properly, rather than risk giving you wrong information. We review this guide at least twice a year and whenever we learn about a major legal change.

Hempika is a Slovenian company that has sold hemp and CBD products since 2016, so we follow these rules closely in our daily work. We also have a commercial interest in this topic, which is why we keep this guide factual, link to our sources and never describe a product as legal without one.

Found an error or an update?

Laws change faster than any guide. If you notice a mistake, a missing country or a recent change, please email us at info@hempika.com. It helps us most if you include the country, a short description of the change and a link to an official source. We check every message and update the guide once the change is confirmed.

Disclaimer

The information in this guide is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, medical or professional advice. Despite our care, it may contain errors or be out of date, and it simplifies complex legislation. Rules can also differ between regions of the same country and between product types. Hempika accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of this guide. Before buying, selling, importing or travelling with CBD products, please check the current rules with the competent authorities in your country or consult a qualified lawyer. CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult a healthcare professional before use, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.